Broken Hearts, Hidden Secrets

Chapter Two

Two Years Later Graduations.

{Zianna's Graduation} Part One.

After two years of struggling with her studies, alhamdulilah Zianna is now graduating no one was there for her except her best friend Arwa and her twin brother Anwar as they were graduating together.

"Are you okay, Zia?" Her best friend asks her knowing that this day was important for her.

"I am great Alhamdulilah. I can't wait to graduate and then get a job," Zianna answers with a huge smile.

But Arwa knew who the real Zianna Hussein was and the person in front of her wasn't her best friend.

Everyone has secrets but deep inside I know that someday you will get your happy ending Zia. In shaa Allah I know that whoever it will be, they would love you more than your family ever did.

Zianna couldn't tell her best friend what was happening in her life because of the word 'burden'.

Thats the exact word that her stepmother would use on her whenever she wanted to ask her father for some college supplies. Even though Arwa and her family treated her as one of their own, Zianna didn't want anyone to think she was taking advantage of their friendship.

"Come on, let's take our seats before we get scolded on our graduation day," Zianna stated to her Arwa who nodded and smiled at her.

I wish that you were here mamma. But I know that it wasn't your choice not to be here. Alhamdulilah, Dad agreed for me to go to college even though it wasn't what I wanted to be. All I can say is Alhamdulilah for everything that's happening in my life, the good and the bad.

"Morning graduates, we have special guests who co-founded the scholarship program. Please welcome, Mr and Mrs Khalid Muhsin," the announcer says.

After saying a few words, the co-founders were informed that they would be the way to give out the certificates to the graduates.

Each name was called to the podium until it was Zianna's turn.

"Asalam Aleikum," Zianna greeted them. This surprised both Khalid and Laila as she was the only Muslim graduate who greeted them with an Islamic greeting.

"Waleikum salaam, Ma shaa Allah. And congratulations to you, Zianna," Laila says to her.

Zianna smiled and thanked them, took her diploma, and walked down the stage.

Khalid looked at his wife who nodded with a smile on their faces.

After the ceremony, everyone was told to go to the dining hall, to get refreshments.

But for Zianna, that meant going home as she didn't want to upset her stepmother who would do anything to just mistreat her.

She turned to her best friend and pulled her aside to talk.

"I need to leave now..."

"Because of the evil witch of a stepmother that lives with you..."

"Arwa, thats not a nice thing to say especially when someone isn't here to defend themselves," Zianna states while glaring at her friend.

Arwa raised her hands in surrender knowing that Zianna didn't like talking badly about people even if they were bad to her or anyone she knew.

"Do you need me to come with you or Anwar?" Arwa asks her best friend knowing that maybe something might happen to her when she gets to the house.

"Arwa, I promise you that if anything happens to me, I will send you a message or even call. Okay? Now, please stop worrying about me. I will see you later In shaa Allah," Zianna says trying to assure her best friend but in reality she is doing that for herself.

Khalid looked at Zianna as she bid farewell to her friend. He knew that deep inside his heart, he had to help her in any way he could.

The moment he saw her eyes, it was like looking at someone who needed help yet they didn't want to ask anyone for it.

Khalid needed to know more about Zianna and who she was because she reminded her of someone that both he and his wife knew in their college years.

But she disappeared as soon as they graduated college and they never heard from her again.

"What are you thinking about?" Laila asks her husband who was still staring at Zianna's back walking out of the college hall. "You dont think that it is her daughter?" She added looking at Khalid who nodded in confirmation.

"I think so. And I feel the need to know more and find out about her life. You know that she left after getting her diploma and did not contact us even though we shared our number and emails with her," Khalid tells her.

"We need to help her, In shaa Allah. How about we start by giving her a job at the firm? Remember that in two months Azhar will be graduating and soon he will join you there. She could be his secretary..."

"What are you planning, Habibty?" Khalid asks his wife who has a mischievous smile on her face.

"You and I both know that Azhar is just like Aayan in romance and love. Remember the time you had to do the introduction between him and Zainab?" Laila reminds him. "And Alhamdulillah, for Azaan because he made him meet Hayat who did not even leave his mind after the first meeting. So let's make our nephew happy just like his father is with his mother. Or am I wrong?," she added with a smile on her face.

"You and I both know that Azhar is just like Aayan in romance and love. Remember the time you had to do the introduction between him and Zainab?" Laila reminds him. "And Alhamdulillah, for Azaan because he made him meet Hayat who did not even leave his mind after the first meeting. So let's make our nephew happy just like his father is with his mother. Or am I wrong?," she added with a smile on her face.

"Fine but we won't be interfering with anything else after that, okay? We will let them make their own destiny and whatever that is, we will respect it," Khalid says to his wife.

They both walked out of the hall, with one thing in mind and that is to hire Zianna and to know if their suspicions are true or not.

Years, months, days or even seconds don't matter when you dont have people or friends in your life who would do anything for you to smile, to be happy even if it's just a fake smile. A real friend would know what your expression says even if you dont tell them what you are feeling inside.